Cortland Finnegan: 10 Reasons He Should Have to Sit Out Rest of Season

Cortland Finnegan and Andre Johnson turned Sunday's Houston vs. Tennessee game into a hockey fight in the fourth quarter when both players started throwing punches.

For Finnegan, it is just the latest in a long line of on-field incidents as a member of the Titans.

While the fight was entertaining, mainly because Finnegan got rolled, Finnegan deserves to sit out for the rest of the season.

10. Finnegan: Repeat Offender Part 1

It is a little hard to see in the video, but in an October game against the Broncos, Finnegan hit Denver offensive lineman Chris Kuper after Kuper's helmet came off.

For the play, Finnegan was fined $10,000 for unnecessary roughness and was warned that he could face increased discipline if he didn't knock it off.

9. Emergence of Alterraun Verner

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

ARLINGTON, TX - OCTOBER 10: Cornerback Alterraun Verner #20 of the Tennessee Titans returns his intercepton to the one yard line in front of tight end Martellus Bennett #80 of the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on October 10, 2010 in Arlington, Texas.

As a rookie, Alterraun Verner has shown that he is a future shutdown corner in the NFL. He is fifth on the Titans with 57 tackles and is tied for second on the team with two interceptions.

I know that it seems counter-intuitive to suspend your best cornerback when the playoffs are not out of reach, but with Vince Young on IR, I think the Titans' season is headed downhill fast.

Suspending Finnegan would give Alterraun Verner a chance to go up against the best wide receivers in the NFL every week, and that would help him gain invaluable experience for the rest of his career.

8. Reputation as a Dirty Player

During a 2008 article by ESPN that polled NFL players and coaches on what players are the dirtiest, Finnegan made the list after being mentioned by then-Broncos receiver Brandon Stokley.

"Stokley also singled out Tennessee Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan as a player with bad intentions. Finnegan, a former small-school prospect and seventh-round draft choice, has become popular in Tennessee for playing with an edge. But his name hasn't shown up among those with the most personal fouls."

That reputation has built over the years, and a suspension might help people forget about his dirty nature.

7. Finnegan: Repeat Offender Part 2

Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ - SEPTEMBER 26: Steve Smith #12 of the New York Giants misses a touchdown pass being guarded by Cortland Finnegan #31 during a game against the Tennessee Titans at New Meadowlands Stadium on September 26, 2010 in East Rutherford, New

In September, Finnegan was fined $5,000 for throwing New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith down by the helmet.

He was also fined $5,000 a week earlier for fighting with Hines Ward.

Seeing a pattern?

6. Needs to Learn a Lesson

Rick Stewart/Getty Images

ORCHARD PARK - AUGUST 24: Cortland Finnegan #31 of the Tennessee Titans is runs against the Buffalo Bills at a preseason game at Ralph Wilson Stadium August 24, 2007 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Rick Stewart/Getty Images)

After his getting his third fine of the season for his hit on Chris Kuper, the NFL warned Cortland Finnegan that more serious punishment would be coming if he continued his actions.

Well NFL, it is time for more serious punishment because, obviously, money isn't doing it.

5. Finnegan: Repeat Offender Part 3

Almost exactly one year ago, this gem happened.

Steve Slaton had just scored on a three-yard touchdown pass and his reward was a punch by Cortland Finnegan.

It is hard to see in the video, but on the play Slaton's helmet had fallen off, making the hit a lot more brutal.

4. Andre Johnson's Reputation

Bob Levey/Getty Images

HOUSTON - DECEMBER 13: Wide receiver Andre Johnson #80 of the Houston Texans scores on a 17 yard pass reception against the Seattle Seahawks at Reliant Stadium on December 13, 2009 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)

Andre Johnson has a reputation as one of the league's "good guys," making the behavior of Finnegan more baffling.

As a rookie, Johnson started the Andre Johnson Foundation, which benefits kids growing up in single-parent homes.

Around the league, Johnson has a good reputation amongst players, in contrast to Finnegan.

3. Radio Interview

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ARLINGTON, TX - AUGUST 21: Wide receiver Roy Williams #11 of the Dallas Cowboys (left) reacts after losing his helmet on a play the first quarter against corner back Cortland Finnegan #31 ofthe Tennessee Titans during a preseason game at Cowboys Stadium

Finnegan addressed the fight Monday on a radio interview on Nashville's 104.5. Let's just say, he was less than contrite.

Here are some quotes:

“I believe I toned it down completely and started playing within the rules because the NFL is changing and you’ve got to adapt to change. So I’ve done that…"

“Did I want it to escalate into that? Absolutely not.…The only thing that upsets me—I’m not worried about getting hit, I’m hard-headed as it is, if you reverse that and it’s me, I’m not at the radio show. I’m sulking because I got a game suspension. But you twist it and it’s because it’s me. You live and you learn. Oh, well."

“It’s not the action that we’re after anymore, it’s the actual person. And that happens to be I’m the instigator, I’m that guy."

“If you reversed it, by any stretch of the imagination, you get me, here, suspended…"

“This is not hockey; this is the NFL. It’s crazy to me to see people condoning this like I got what I deserved. So be it…"

“I do want to apologize for the way I left…and the waving…"

“I guess he got his money’s worth.”

After reading these quotes, I feel that for anything to change for Finnegan, he needs to be suspended.

2. Finnegan Told the Texans the Hit Was Coming

Bob Levey/Getty Images

HOUSTON - NOVEMBER 28: Wide receiver Andre Johnson #80 of the Houston Texans is separated by umpire Garth DeFerlice #53 from cornerback Cortland Finnegan #31 of the Tennessee Titans after the two exchanged punches in the fourth quarter at Reliant Stadium

According to Richard Justice of the Houston Chronicle, just before the play that started the fight, Finnegan yelled at the Texans' sideline, "Watch this."

After the snap, he went straight for Johnson's head.

This says to me that Finnegan knew exactly what he was doing when he went after Johnson.

He knew that a fight would be the result of the hit, and he was welcoming it.

Well, I hope he is welcoming a lighter wallet and some time off, too.

1. Finnegan: Repeat Offender Part 4

How can no suspension come from this?

If you look at both players' history with the league, it is no question who the instigator was.

I just loved that Andre Johnson finished it.